A67926:1126
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Neither do men light a candle, & put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine, and give light to them in the house. And in an other place he saith: you shall be led before kings & rulers, fear ye not them, which kill the body, but him which killeth both body and soul, Who soever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my father which is in heaven: And he that denieth me before men, him will I also deny before my heavenly father. Wherefore, seeing the words of the Lord be so plain, how or by what authority will this wise counsellor them approve this his counsel, which he doth give? God forbid that I should relinquish ⟨p. 941⟩the commandments of God, and follow the counsels of men. For it is written: Blessed is the man that hath not gone in the ways of sinners, and hath not stand in the counsels of the ungodly, and hath not sit in the chair of pestilence. Psal. 1. God forbid that I should deny Christ, where I ought to confess him. I will not set more by my life, then by my soul: neither will I exchange the life to come, for this world here present. O how foolishly speaketh he, which here argueth me of foolishness? Neither do I take it to be a thing so uncomely or unseeming for me not to obey in this matter, the requests of those so honourable, just, prudent, virtuous and noble Senators, whose desires (he sayeth) were enough to command me. For so are we taught of the Apostles: That we ought to obey God before men. After that we have served and done our duty first unto God▪ then are we bound next to obey the Potestates of this world: whom I wish to be perfect before the Lord. They are honourable, but yet are they to be made more perfect in the Lord They are just, but yet Christ the seat of justice is lacking in them. They are wise, but where is in them the beginning of wisdom, that is, the fear of the Lord? They are called virtuous, but yet I wish them more absolute in Christian charity. They are good and gracious: but yet I miss in them the foundation of goodness, which is the Lord God, in whom dwelleth all goodness and grace. They are honourable, yet have they not received the Lord of glory, which is our Saviour most honourable and glorious. Understand you kings, and learn you that judge the earth.
Neither do men light a candle, & put it vnder a bushell, but vppon a candlesticke, that it may shyne, and geue light to them in the house. And in an other place he sayth: you shalbe led before kinges & rulers, feare ye not them, which kill the body, but hym whiche killeth both body and soule, Who soeuer shall confesse me before men, him will I also cō fesse before my father whiche is in heauen: And hee that denyeth me before men, him will I also deny before my heauenly father. Wherfore, seing the words of the Lord be so playne, how or by what authoritie will this wise counseller thē approue this hys counsayle, which he doth geue? God forbid that I shuld relinquish